BANGKOK, Feb 28 (NNN-TNA) – Thailand today started its COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, with the first shot, using China’s Sinovac vaccine, going to Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul.
Thai Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, presided over the event at the country’s infectious disease institute, where other officials, including deputy public health minister, agriculture minister, culture minister and deputy education minister, were also vaccinated.
“It’s a historic day and a day to help the country rebuild confidence against the pandemic,” Prayut told reporters, after all the recipients of the vaccine ended their 30-minute observation period.
Also today, 159 people in Samut Sakhon province, the epicentre of the country’s new wave of an outbreak that erupted in mid-Dec, are scheduled to receive their first shot of the vaccine. These included local officials, as well as, representatives of at-risk groups, such as medical workers and migrant workers.
On Wednesday, Thailand received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines, 200,000 doses from China’s Sinovac, which were then distributed to 13 provinces, including the capital, Bangkok. An additional 1.8 million doses are scheduled to arrive in Mar and Apr.– NNN-TNA
